“You could’ve totally avoided that bump if you weren’t so busy trying to show off, Ethan,” Lila shot back, trying to maintain the edge in the argument.
“Oh please, Lila. You know I’d have won that race if you hadn’t decided to hog the inside lane like it was some kind of trophy,” Ethan countered, crossing his arms defiantly.
Lila rolled her eyes. “It’s called racing etiquette. Maybe you should try learning it sometime instead of just barreling in like you own the track.”
Ethan laughed, his smirk returning. “Says the girl who nearly spun out three laps in a row! If you’d paid more attention to the road instead of being so focused on me, you might have finished the race.”
“Excuse me? At least I don’t need to rely on ridiculous moves to impress the fans! It’s called racing skill!”
“Skill? You mean like the one where you stalled right before the pit stop? That was genius!”
This exchange only escalated, with both of them throwing playful insults, their voices rising above the din of laughter and music around them.
“You wouldn’t know real skill if it hit you!” Lila exclaimed, her face flushed with a mix of anger and adrenaline.
“Real skill? I live and breathe this! You’re just here to be the underdog, hoping for a miracle,” Ethan shot back, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Before they knew it, they had begun shoving each other, their words morphing into shouts. Drinks sloshed over the counter, and patrons looked on, some laughing while others joined in the fray, egging them on as the bar staff rushed to separate the combatants.
“What are we even fighting about?” Lila exclaimed, her laughter breaking through the tension as she regained her balance, just as surprised as everyone else at the sudden escalation.
Ethan paused mid-argument, shaking his head with disbelief. “Seriously? We started with racing and ended up discussing whose shampoo has the better fragrance!”
“Yes, because that’s a crucial part of being a top racer! What a compelling debate!” Lila chuckled, now fully aware of how absurd this situation had become.
“I still can’t stand you,” Lila said, the remnants of rage softening into a playful grin.
“Likewise,” Ethan replied, chuckling, shaking his head as he leaned back against the bar. Both of them were panting lightly, but the exhilaration of their playful banter had transformed their anger into a grudging respect—an electricity between them that neither could deny.